FAQs - Food Information

Question :
Please suggest to me the best brand for food supplement in Malaysian market. The most trusted one, with moneyback satisfaction guarantee.

Answer :
We are not able to give you such a recommendation as you requested. We do not endorse any particular brand of supplement or any food product.
I would suggest you discuss with a nutritionist or dietitian on the needs of taking supplements before you even decide what brand you need to buy. Find out if you really need supplements; which type; for how long should you take them, etc. IN general, dietary supplements are not necessary if a person eats according to the dietary guidelines of the Ministry of Health. Visit our website (nutriweb.org.my) for healthy eating tips.
Question :
Where can I find out nurtition value of a certain food such as, protein/carbo contain in a chicken/plate of rice? Thanks

Answer :
From NutriWeb of course. Go to www.nutriweb.org.my and look for a module on food composition. The database has data on nutrient composition for 1000 foods including ready to eat meals. Alternatively you can buy the book from the Institute for Medical Research (03-40402316).
Question :
I have checked your database earlier but the information requested is not there. Hence I presume that you are not having the nutritional facts for Fructus Lycii and dragon fruits. Can you please advise?

Answer :
Yes, the fruits you wanted are not on our database.
Question :
I noticed in your food pyramid that the "health tip" recommended taking fruits as dessert. I have read in many other nutrition publications that fruits ought to be taken either 1-1.5 hours before food intake or 1-1.5 hours after food intake to enable optimum absorption of the vitamins.
Why this difference in opinion by Malaysian nutritionists?

Answer :
Interesting point. Not from the fruits perspective, but rather from the point of "who is giving the nutrition information". It is also not a question of Malaysian or other countries.
Firstly, check the source of your information. Are these qualified nutritionists ? If yes, where are they attached to ? Are the authorities in nutrition, eg from the ministries of heatlh or world health organisation ?
Our dietary guidelines are from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the authoritive source of information on nutrition. If you also check the Ministry of Health of other countries, including the world health organsiation, you will see our recommendations is the same as theirs.
We realise there are some schools of thought who have different views from the dietary guidelines from the health authorities of the world. These are the minority and we do not believe there is sufficient scientific basis for their recommendations.
I would urge you to continue to follow nutrition advise from authoritative sources only.
Question :
Is 'Low Cholesterol' connection with positive effects in Heart diseases legally accepted in Malaysia?

Answer :
Your question is not very clear.. But I suppose you mean to ask if an association of low cholesterol and reduced risk to heart disease claim is permitted by the food regulations in Malaysa.
The answer is no. Look into the Q & A that we have on our website on the permitted nutrition labelling and claims.
Join the Nutrition Society of Malaysia for more information on nutrition in the country and elsewhere.
Question :
Hello, i would like to know whether goat's milk or cow's milk is most similar to our human milk content ? Which is better for infant to consume? Thank you.

Answer :
The best milk for infants to consume is human milk, that is mother's milk. You must really try to breastfeed your infant as there is no milk (whether goat's or cow's milk) that can replace mother's milk.
If you really have to, then you can rely on one of the formulas in the market. I do not think there is a great difference between milk of goat or of cow. Anyway, the companies can add several nutrients inside.
Question :
I would like to know more about importance of Folic acids. Is it better to have the combination of this nutrient (eg Folic acid + vitamin B ) or just folic acid solely in a supplement ?

Answer :
It is definitely more important to have all the B vitamins from food, rather than focusing or concentrating on taking folic acid alone from supplements. Vitamins also rely on each other, as well as other nutrients to function optimally. If you feel you need to take some folic acid supplements, please discuss with a nutritionist or dietitian on how much to take and for how long. I am not able to provide more advise through the e-mail.
Question :
Hi. I wonder if you can provide me with some nutrition facts? Are Chinese medicine (mixed herb, roots, dong guai, dates) high in calories or fattening?

Answer :
Please check the database on nutriweb for the amount of calorie and other nutrients. Chinese medicine are generally not high in fat.